News Govt nixes Rs 32,000 crore ‘Make in India’ minesweepers project

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Dec 4, 2017
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NEW DELHI: In yet another major blow to the 'Make in India' plan+ in the defence sector, the government has cancelled the Rs 32,000 crore project to construct 12 advanced minesweepers in collaboration with South Korea at the Goa Shipyard.

Advanced minesweepers or mine counter-measure vessels (MCMVs) are around 900-tonne specialised warships that detect, track and destroy underwater mines laid by enemy forces to choke harbours and offshore installations, disrupt shipping and maritime trade.

The Navy, which began this acquisition case way back in July 2005, needs 24 MCMVs to guard the east and west coasts but is making do with only four 30-year-old minesweepers at present.

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This "big operational capability gap" is all the more alarming because Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines, which can quietly lay mines, are regularly making forays into the Indian Ocean now.

Top sources say the government has directed the Goa Shipyard to start the entire process afresh for the already long-delayed MCMV project, which was strongly pushed by Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar when he was the defence minister, after scrapping the protracted commercial negotiations with South Korean shipyard Kangnam. "Goa Shipyard has been asked to issue a new global expression of interest (EoI) for the MCMVs. The fresh RFP (request for proposal) or tender will follow thereafter.

Final negotiations with Kangnam were stuck for long because it wanted deviations from the original RFP. There were also some ToT (transfer of technology), build strategy and cost problems," said a source.

No major "Make in India" defence project has actually kicked off in the last three to four years due to lack of requisite political push and follow-through, bureaucratic bottlenecks and longwinded procedures, commercial and technical squabbles, as was reported by TOI in October last year.

At least six mega projects worth over Rs 3.5 lakh crore, ranging from future infantry combat vehicles, light utility helicopters and naval multi-role choppers to new-generation stealth submarines, fifth-generation fighter aircraft and MCMVs, remain stuck at different stages without the final contracts being inked.

More at : Govt nixes Rs 32,000 crore ‘Make in India’ minesweepers project - Times of India
 
South Kore refused ToT and hence it was nixed. It was merely assemble in India. What Modi wanted was manufacture in India. I see it as good news.
 
NEW DELHI: In yet another major blow to the 'Make in India' plan+ in the defence sector, the government has cancelled the Rs 32,000 crore project to construct 12 advanced minesweepers in collaboration with South Korea at the Goa Shipyard.

Advanced minesweepers or mine counter-measure vessels (MCMVs) are around 900-tonne specialised warships that detect, track and destroy underwater mines laid by enemy forces to choke harbours and offshore installations, disrupt shipping and maritime trade.

The Navy, which began this acquisition case way back in July 2005, needs 24 MCMVs to guard the east and west coasts but is making do with only four 30-year-old minesweepers at present.

Master.jpg




This "big operational capability gap" is all the more alarming because Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines, which can quietly lay mines, are regularly making forays into the Indian Ocean now.

Top sources say the government has directed the Goa Shipyard to start the entire process afresh for the already long-delayed MCMV project, which was strongly pushed by Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar when he was the defence minister, after scrapping the protracted commercial negotiations with South Korean shipyard Kangnam. "Goa Shipyard has been asked to issue a new global expression of interest (EoI) for the MCMVs. The fresh RFP (request for proposal) or tender will follow thereafter.

Final negotiations with Kangnam were stuck for long because it wanted deviations from the original RFP. There were also some ToT (transfer of technology), build strategy and cost problems," said a source.

No major "Make in India" defence project has actually kicked off in the last three to four years due to lack of requisite political push and follow-through, bureaucratic bottlenecks and longwinded procedures, commercial and technical squabbles, as was reported by TOI in October last year.

At least six mega projects worth over Rs 3.5 lakh crore, ranging from future infantry combat vehicles, light utility helicopters and naval multi-role choppers to new-generation stealth submarines, fifth-generation fighter aircraft and MCMVs, remain stuck at different stages without the final contracts being inked.

More at : Govt nixes Rs 32,000 crore ‘Make in India’ minesweepers project - Times of India

Apparently , the new EoI to be issued will be issued to Kangnam as well. If they've not received a suitable response from Kangnam after they were awarded the project , why invite them again is beyond me ?!?
 
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Another mess up by this government. Few more years will be spent to redo the whole process. And there is no indigenous alternative.

Navy seriously lacks capability in three areas. Submarines, helicopters, and Minesweepers. All in the same state as in 2014. Good going, Modi.
 
Kangnam wanted to use magnetically compensated engines (MTU - German) that need retuning regularly instead of inherently non magnetic engines.

Given Indias vast coastline, having widely distributed and duplicated retuning facilities is a maintenance disaster during wartime.

Now heres the thing - going by the speculation that kangnam has not been blacklisted from further participation, I have to assume that this area was left grey by our little educated so called "experts" in the Navy and babudom.

No politician can do wonders if our babus, generals, commodores and air martials are under educated overpaid corrupt incompetent fools.
 
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5 billion USD order to GSL still stands. Its the 1 billion USD deal with Kangam for ToT which is cancelled. GSL will roll out another EOI or RFP soon. Nothing to worry.

So GSL is making Mine sweepers without TOT

BTW we can make Big destroyers ; so why do we need TOT here
 
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So GSL is making Mine sweepers without TOT

BTW we can make Big destroyers ; so why do we need TOT here

GSL right now is creating facilities for the fabrication of composite/fiberglass hull of around a 1000 ton ship.

Fabrication of such hull is the main problem as we don't have expertise in it.

GSL is the main contractor and it will again float a EOI for ToT on fabrication of such big hull.

What should actually worry us that the procurement program for the full minehunting gear is making no progress. Atlas Electronik and Thales have replied to a RFI, but no further action yet.
 
GSL right now is creating facilities for the fabrication of composite/fiberglass hull of around a 1000 ton ship.

Fabrication of such hull is the main problem as we don't have expertise in it.

GSL is the main contractor and it will again float a EOI for ToT on fabrication of such big hull.

What should actually worry us that the procurement program for the full minehunting gear is making no progress. Atlas Electronik and Thales have replied to a RFI, but no further action yet.

But What do we do when the existing mine sweepers are de comissioned

Cant we Buy some off the shelf
 
But What do we do when the existing mine sweepers are de comissioned

Cant we Buy some off the shelf

Navy has already put up a tender for minehunting gear which would be added to our OPVs. They would be a kind of disposable mine detection and neutralisation system. That would be the interim.

Buying off the shelf isn't that good, considering our slower than snail pace. Plus modern hulls aren't available at the moment too.
 
Navy has already put up a tender for minehunting gear which would be added to our OPVs. They would be a kind of disposable mine detection and neutralisation system. That would be the interim.

Buying off the shelf isn't that good, considering our slower than snail pace. Plus modern hulls aren't available at the moment too.

I dont really understand how can we be so careless with such important matters
 
I dont really understand how can we be so careless with such important matters
It was january of 2016 and Assam Rifles soldier was killed. I got a pic from my friend when his body was brought in a tempo to the camp.

He didnt had any helmet or bpj. He had a Sterling, boots and a backpack with water bottle. His body was wrapped in a small piece of cloth which didnt covered him fully. The whole tempo was full of blood. My friend also met his small children , they couldn't understand what had happened. He had only 1 bullet injury. Had he got even the present basic weapon and protection a RR man has, he would have been alive.

Well this happened in Jan of 2016. Much later after Modi became the PM. Isn't it a shame that we are loosing men becoz they are armed ww2 style with ww2 equipments? If we can let young and brave men die in flying coffins, in widow makers, in floating junks and even without a bpj, then what you are referring is a far of thing.

PS: I think i got a bit carried away. Anyway.
 
5 billion USD order to GSL still stands. Its the 1 billion USD deal with Kangam for ToT which is cancelled. GSL will roll out another EOI or RFP soon. Nothing to worry.

Can you elaborate on that ? What's the difference between the 2 deals ? After all the IN has projected a requirement of 24 such MCMV , while according to reports , they've to make do with 4 such vessels nearly 30 years old .
 
Can you elaborate on that ? What's the difference between the 2 deals ? After all the IN has projected a requirement of 24 such MCMV , while according to reports , they've to make do with 4 such vessels nearly 30 years old .

In 2014 the Government awarded 5 billion USD deal to GSL to build 12 MCMV , to create facilities for the fabrication of hull , to buy minehunting suite and to buy the Radar and Guns from BEL. To help with the design and Technology to fabricate the hull GSL and Navy needed foreign input for which another EOI was floated by GSL to which only Kangam replied. They passed the technicalities, but their bid was for around 1 billion USD. It was this part which has been cancelled. The GSL will have the required facilities for fabrication by the end of this year. And meanwhile it will float a EOI again.

Plus 24 is the minimum requirement, ideal is much more as now even Bangaladeshi Navy has submarine capability.
 
Another mess created by NDA, just as many deals signed as cancelled under this govt.

Contrary to all expectations Modi is indifferent to the military; endless delays, no reforms, multiple high profile deals cancelled and historically low defence spending.


Anyone expecting this to change in the near future are deluding themselves.
 
South Kore refused ToT and hence it was nixed. It was merely assemble in India. What Modi wanted was manufacture in India. I see it as good news.
In that case it is good news, One simple question, we can make State of the art frigates,destroyers, but we can't make Mine Sweepers seems absurd to me. What is the ToT South Korea was offering ?
 
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Another mess created by NDA, just as many deals signed as cancelled under this govt.

Contrary to all expectations Modi is indifferent to the military; endless delays, no reforms, multiple high profile deals cancelled and historically low defence spending.


Anyone expecting this to change in the near future are deluding themselves.

What is needed is a strong DM who enjoys the confidence of the Armed Forces and voice their demands without succumbing to the pressures of the PMO and also the MoD to a certain extent. MP tried it . One doesn't know how successful was he .In the event his tenure was too short to guage the efficacy his ministership made .
 
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Another mess created by NDA, just as many deals signed as cancelled under this govt.

Contrary to all expectations Modi is indifferent to the military; endless delays, no reforms, multiple high profile deals cancelled and historically low defence spending.


Anyone expecting this to change in the near future are deluding themselves.
No one signed the deal to cancel it. Good buyers negotiate well and cancel the plans when not favourable
 
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Another mess created by NDA, just as many deals signed as cancelled under this govt.

Contrary to all expectations Modi is indifferent to the military; endless delays, no reforms, multiple high profile deals cancelled and historically low defence spending.


Anyone expecting this to change in the near future are deluding themselves.

Hello Sir ; Modi and the DM do not understand technical complexities

They are guided by the Bureaucrats who work closely with the service HQs

PM and DM only ask about the Overall preparedness and sanction the Funds

If something is necessary ; it is Bought No matter what from anywhere

So the Naval HQ should be asked why did they mess up this Acquistion and
How will Indian navy work without Mine sweepers